ZANACO thrash Nkana to reach Barclays cup final

Aubrey Funga scored a brace while Richard Kasonde and Saith Sakala contributed a goal apiece as Zanaco defeated Nkana with a convincing 4-0 victory in the first semifinal of the 2016 Barclays Cup, reaching their second final of the competition in the process.

Zanaco last reached the Barclays Cup final in 2010 when they lost 2-0 to Zesco United.

For the first time in the competition, the referee was given discretion to allow for two water breaks, one in each half lasting a minute at a time. Referee Wisdom Chewe stopped the match for water breaks in the 23rdand 65th minutes.

Ironically, Zanaco’s second goal was scored two minutes after the first water break while the third goal was scored two minutes before the second break.

The bankers took an early lead through Richard Kasonde who opened the scoring in the 8th minute with a free header following a corner delivered by Rodrick Kabwe.

Aubrey Funga doubled the advantage in the 26thminute with a powerful shot at the top of the box to give Zanaco a 2-0 lead at the break.

Saith Sakala made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute before Funga added his second goal and Zanaco’s fourth of the match seven minutes later.

Nkana coach Aggrey Chiyangi described the defeat as very disappointing adding that players and coaches took the responsibility for the loss equally.

“To lose 4-0 is very disappointing because we had good chances to score as well. In short the result is not a reflection of how we played. But we have to Forge ahead and remain headstrong knowing that we are still in contention for the league.

“We cannot put the blame on our defenders or strikers but the team as a whole takes responsibility for the loss. We were not lucky with our chances today and we conceded goals which we could have defended. We could have overturned the result if we had converted even one of those chances,” said Chiyangi.

The victory for Zanaco means that they are on course to win both the league as well as the only cup competition in the country. Zesco United were the last team to win both the league and the Barclays Cup in 2014.

Zanaco will play the winner of the second semifinal between Power Dynamos and Zesco United at a yet to be confirmed venue which tentatively is Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka in November.